Method for gasifying liquid fuels



Dec. 20, G R ELM METHOD FOR GASIFYING LIQUID FUELS Original Filed Sept. 16, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Dec. 20, 1932. RElCHHELM 1,891,446

METHOD FOR IGASIFYING LIQUID FUELS Original Filed Sept. 15, 1926 2 sheets-sneer 2 III/Ill Patented D... 20, 1932" UNITED STATES PATENT: OFFICE GEORGE L. mucmmml, 0! SHORT BEACH, CONNECTICUT, ASBIGNOB; TO THE GASU'IEB COIPANY, OI ELIZABETH, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF JERSEY IE'IHOD FOB GASII'YING LIQUID IUELS Application filed September 18, 1986, Serial No. 185,784. Renewed Lanai: 5, 1988.

The present invention relates to methods for gasifying liquid .fuels.

The resent invention contemplates the utilization of a number of rinciples set forth in the Reichhelm apphcation- Serial No. 492,237, filed August 15th, 1921-. Said.

a plication and the division thereof filed N bvember 24th, 1924, and bearing Serial No. 7 52;049, describe means and methods for converting low grade fuels such as heavy fuel oil into a light highly combustible gas, wh ch gas may be stored for future use or distributed through pipes, tubes, or gasifiers, without condensation. The means and methods described in said prior application contemplate the atomizing of the o l with a primary supply of air, pro1ecting said atomlzed mixture and subjectin a portion of said mixture to a limited secon ar supply of air adequate to form a complete y combustible mixture, igniting said combustible mixture and burning same to gasify the remaining portion of the atomized fuel.

The present invention has for one of its objects the rovision of an improved method for control ing the distribution of the oil whereby the capacity of the apparatus will be increased and whereby better regulation ma be had than has heretofore been possible.

X further object is to provide an improved method for gasifying liquid fuel which will set up primary and secondary zones of atomized fuel.

Further objects will appear as the description proceeds.

Referring to the drawings Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of one embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a view in elevation taken at right angles to the view shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a sectional view .taken alon the plane indicated by the arrows 33 of igure 1;

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken along the plane indicated by the arrows 4'4 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken along the plane indicated by the arrows 55 of Figure 2;

Figure 5A is a view on an enlarged scale of art of the structure shown in Figure 5;

lg'ure 6 is a sectional view taken along the planedindicated by the arrows 6-6 of Figure Figure 7 is a view in side elevation of a flame'plate which may be used in the practice of the present invention.

In order to provide a perspective of the invention, it'ma be stated briefly that oil or other li uid fue is subjected to. air, preferably un er pressure, and, with the am, projected in an atomized state into a gasifying chamber. The present invention contemplates the provision of means for projecting said atomized fuel in a manner to produce the best efliciency. Said fuel is preferably caused to' take a tangential or swirling motion by means of jets of oxygen-bearing fluid, preferably air. The fuel is thereby. prevented from impinging directly upon the wall of the chamber and at the same time a regulable supply of air is provided. During this swirling movement there is a very thorough mixture of the air with the superficial portion of the stream of atomized oil and air, and there is combustion at a high temperature which vaporizes the oil. Briefly stated, the oil is successively atomized, vaporized and gasified, the atomized oil being distributed in a manner to cause the efiicient vaporization and gasification of a major portion of said oil.

Referring first to Figures 1, 2 and 3, the numeral 10 indicates a drum having a pair of side walls 11 and 12 and a circular band 13. Mounted within said drum is a housin 14. It is within this housing 14 that the oi is gasified and fixed in gaseous condition. Said housing 14' has curved walls providing a combustion chamber 15, a secondary or superheating chamber 16, and an outlet portion 17 which outlet portion leads to the outlet pipe 18.

Mounted upon the drum 10 and extending rounding the nozzle 19 is 4 the hole 19a, through which air is admitted to the drum from the apertures 19?; in the nozzle 19,

as will be referred to further hereinafter. Said nozzle is held in adjusted position in the bracket 20 by means of the set screw 21 or by any other preferred means. The nozzle 19 forms a very important part ofthe mechanism for breakin up fluid oil into an atomized condition. T e air which is used for atomizing the oil will be referred to in this specification as primary air. The atomized oil, that is-the oil which has been broken up into a spray or vapor and mixed with air, is projected from the nozzle 19 into the combustion chamber 15 of the housing 14. The air admitted to the drum 10 from the apertures 19b in the nozzle 19 is referred to in this specification as secondary air. The secondary air within the drum 10 is admitted to the combustion chamber 15 through orifices 22 and 23, as shown in Figure 3. Only a few orifices are illustrated'in Figure 3,

but it will be understood that other orifices will be provided in a number of planes. Said orifices 22 and 23 will preferably have their axes disposed in directions such that the jets emitted from said orifices into the combustion chamber 15 will set up a tangential or swirling movement of the fluid within said combustion chamber 15. It will be noted from an inspection of Figure 3 that the opening between the combustion chamber 15 and the superheating chamber 16 is not symmet'ribal with combustion chamber 15, but is "so formed that it directs fluid from combustion chamber 15 downwardly into said superheating chamber 16. As illustrated, jets of secondary air emitted inwardly from orifices 22 will be projected in a direction to set up a swirling movement in chamber 15 in a counter-clockwise direction. This swirling movement will be aided by the jets emitted inwardly from orifices 23, the latter mentioned jets also tending to force the gases down into the superheating chamber 16. Mounted Within the combustion chamber 15 and superheating chamber 16 is the flame plate 24, which flame plate is disposed adjacent to the side wall 12 of the drum 10. Said flame plate 24, as will be explained hereinafter, serves as a means for simplifying ignition, as well as stabilizing combustion after ignition occurs. Said flame plate 24', which'may be composed of Q-alloy, nichrome, or other preferred material, is provided with a plurality of serrations forming tongues 25, which have the function of creating many individual eddies, each creating a baflie or flame zone near enough to the next to cause ignition of its neighbor. The constancy of the stream projected by the nozzle 19 is very easily controlled, by means which will be referred to hereinafter, whereby said stream may be readily ignited. As soon as small flamelets appear at the lower part of the flame plate 24, they readily impart heat to and ignite the oncoming superficial particles and successively ignite zones of higher levels until the flame reaches the combustion chamber1 5, when the propagation and maintenanceof combustion goes on.

A spark plug 26 or other igniting device sisting material such as granular quartz,

granular alumina, porous fire brick, or the like, in which surface combustion is accelerated. I

It will be understood that somewhere in the projected stream of atomized oil, between the densest portion of the stream and the outer layer of superficial particles, a homogeneous explosive mixture will .be

found. The heated flame plate will cause what is'known as contact catalysis to accelcrate the combustion, and the zoned or stratified condition of the stream produces the result that the flame plate becomes a very efiicient catalyst, which becomes more efficient as the temperature is increased, not only by the process of contact catalysis, but also by virtue of the fact that said flame plate radiates its light rays directly into and across the path of the main stream. It will be understood that the location of said flame plate may be chosen as desired, and that if preferred said flame plate may take the form of a lining for the interior of the housing 14, not being limited to one side thereof.

The means for governing the projection of oil and air into the housing 14 will now be described. As pointed out above, the nozzle 19 is supported upon the drum 10 in a position to project oil and air in an atomized condition into the combustion chamber 15. Mounted within said nozzle 19 is the tube 27, which tube is closed at its lower extremity but is provided near its lower extremity with apertures 28 for directing oil or other liquid fuel radially from said tube 27. Said nozzle 19 is closed at its lower extremity except for a diametrical aperture 01' slot indicated in Figure 5 by the numeral 29. The tube 27 is preferably symmetrically disposed with respect to the diametricalaperture 29 at the lower extremity of the nozzle 19. Disposed within said diametrically disposed aperture 29 are the control members 30 and 31, which control members are provided with the control fingers 32 and 33, re-

spectively. Said control fingers 32 and 33 are disposed in parallel planes substantiall at right angles to the axis of the tube 2?, but t e control finger 32 is closer to the extremity of the tube 27 than isthe control 5 finger 33, which structure has decided advantages, as will be. pointed out hereinafter. Said control fingers 32 and 33 are preferably movable as a unit in a direction axially of the tube 27. For the purpose of providing adjustability of the control fin ers 32 and 33, a holding plate 34 is provide which has its extremities bent at ri ht angles to the major portion of the mem. r 34', which extremities are suitably apertured to receive the tube 27. The control members and 31, including the control fingers 32 and 33, are secured b rivets or otherwise to the su porting mem r 34. Rigidly secured to t e tube 27 near its lower extremit is the spider 35 for setting up eddies in t e flow of ar through nozzle 19 e'xteriorly of the tube 27.

Communication to the tube 27 is bad through conical passageway 36, which is controlled by the conical valve 37, said valve 37 being directly connected to the stem 38, which is adapted to be rotated by the handle 39. Movement of said handle in one direction will cause the opening of the valve 37 and movement of said handle in the opposite direction will cause the closing of sa d valve 37. Said valve 37 controls the inflow of oil or the liquid fuel through the inlet 40. Mounted upon the stem 38 is the pinion 41 adapted to mesh with the gear 42. The gear 42 in the illustrated embodiment of the present invention is. immovable in an axial di-' rection, whereas the inion 41, being mounted upon the stein 38, 1s movable axially. The axial d mensions of thepinion 41 and gear 42 should be chosen such that during the complete ran e of movement of the valve 37 demeshing of the pinion 41 and the gear 42 will not occur. The gear 42 is mounted up-' on the stem 43, but is adjustable thereto in a circumferential direction through means which will be referred to here nafter. The stem 43 has non-rotatably mounted thereon the valve 44, said valve 44 being pressed a ainst its seat by means of the spring 45.

aid valve 44 controls the inflow of air through the inlet 46. Air from the inlet 46 may pass the valve 44 in varying amounts (depend ng upon the position of the valve 44) into the inlet passageway 47, whence said air passes into the nozzle 19 in position to surround the tube 27. A portion of said air will be projected from the lower extremity of the nozzle 19, which portion has been referred to as pr mary air. The remaining portion passes out through the a-ertures 19b and through the opening 19a into the drum 10. Said remaining portion of the air has been referred to above as secondary air. It will be noted that the supply of oil through the inlet and the supply of air rection, raising the stem and control finfrom the inlet 26 are controlled in synchronism by manipulation of the handle 39. It will be understood, of course, that the handle 39 is shown for illustrative purposes only, it being within the scope of the invention to operate the valves by any preferred means, either manual or automatic Adjustment of the valve 37 relative to the valve 44 may be accomplished by any preferred means. According to the illustrated embodiment of the present. invention, the stem 43 has fixed thereto the collar 48, having attached thereto the spring 49 provided with the'finger hold 50. The gear 42 is frotatably mounted upon the stem 43, but is constrained to rotate with said stem 43 by reason of the connection between the spring 49 and said gear 42, said connection being provided by the stud 51 projecting from the spring 49, which stud is adapted to fit between adjacent teeth of gear 42. It will be obvious that by moving the spring 49 so that the stud carried thereby is drawn out of engagement with the gear 42, the stem- 43 may be rotated independently of gear 42 and pinion 41 to effect the desired adjustment between valve 37 and valve 44. The gear 42 carries the pointer 52 adapted to cooperate with the scale 53, whereby to ive a visual indication of the adjustment oft e parts.

Though the oil tube 27 may be non-adjust ablydisposed relative to the nozzle 19, the present invention contemplates adjustability of the control fingers 32 'and 33 with reference to the nozzle 19. In order to provide this adj ustability, the supporting member 34 is carried by the bracket 54, which bracket is car-- ried at the lower extremity of the stem 55, which stem is movable in a direction parallel to the axis of the oil tube 27 Said stem 55 is provided at its upper extremity with the bushing 56, which bushin is externally screw-threaded for adjusta 1y supporting the nut 57. The numeral 58 indicates a spring member anchored upon any convenient part of the gasifier, which spring memher-exerts a downward force upon the adjusting nut 57, urging the stem 55, supporting member 34 and control fingers 32 and 33 downwardly. In order to control the position of stem 55 and accordingly the positions of the control fingers 32 and 33, a bell crank lever 59 is provided pivotally mounted in any preferred manner upon the frame of the gasifier. One extremity of the bell crank lever 59 is adapted to abut against the under side of the ad uSting nut 57. The other extremity of the bell crank lever 59 is adapted to abut. against the right-hand side of the pinion 41 as the parts are viewed in Figure 3. It will be obvious that as the control handle 39 is turned in a direction to move the valve37 toward the closing position, the bell crank lever 59 will be swung ina counter-clockwise digers 32 and 33. Conversely, if the handle 39 is rotated ina direction to open the valve 37, the bell crank lever 59 will be allowed to swing in a clockwise direction under the ina 5 fluence of the spring 58, whereby to permit the lowering of the stem 55 and control fingers 32 and 33. It will be obvious, therefore, that in addition to the double function of controlling the oil valve 37 and air valve 44, the handle 39 has the added function of controlling the positions of the the control fingers 32 and 33 synchronously with the control of the oil and air valves.

Preferably, one of the control fingers 32 and 33 is disposed in closer proximity to the extremity of the tube 27 than is the other of said fingers. As illustrated, the control finger 32 is disposed in closer proximity to the extremity of the oil tube 27. than is the control finger 33. Said fingers 32 and. 33 are disposed in position to intercept the flow of the mixture of air and oil, which mixture is produced by contact of the incoming air with the oil emitted from the apertures 2828 in the lower extremity of the tube 27. Said control fingers 32 and 33 intercept part of the oil spray and reduce its velocity to a rate below the rate of flame propagation, whereby this intercepted part may be burned. The control finger 32, being closer to the oil tube 27 serves to divert a part of the spray at a relatively obtuse angle, whereby to prevent the projection of such part of the heavy spray directly into the combustion'chamber 15. The

finger 33, which is further from the oil tube 27, diverts part of the stream at a more acute angle, that ismore nearly parallel with the oil tube 27. Said finger 33 is disposed near the flame plate 24, which construction is of 40 advantage in simplifying ignition of the spray, as well as stabilizing the combustion after ignition has occurred. As the atomized stream of oil and air descends, the superficial particles thereof are intercepted by the tongues on the flame plate 24, creating many individual eddies, each creating a bafile or flame zone near enough to the next to cause ignition of its neighbor.

The cover plate 11 of the drum 10 is provided with the peep-hole 60, having the window portion 61 t within the housing 14 may be observed.

By reason of the construction wherein the control fingers 32 and 33 are disposed at different distances from the extremity of the oil tube 27, which is to say in effect-at different distances from the diametrical aperture 29 in the nozzle 19, a plurality of zones of spray are produced.

The mode of operation of the above described embodiment of the present invention is substantially as follows. In order to start the gasifier, the handle 39 is turned in a direction to open the valve 37 -to permit the inflow of oil through the oil inlet 40. By reason of rough which conditions the engagement of the pinion 4 1. with the the oil projected through the aperture 28 near-the lower extremity of the oil tube 27. v The .atomized oil strikes the control fingers 32 and 33, which action still more finely divides the oil. The streams of finely divided oil and air are projected on both sides of the fingers 32 and 33 in a manner indicated by the arrows in Figure 3. The

higher the air fingers are disposed, the more nearly horizontal will be the direction of these streams up to the point where the fingers recede into the aperture 29 at the lower extremity of the nozzle 19. By reason of the connection of the control fingers 32 and 33 with the oil valve 37 and air valve 44, when only a small quantity of oil is being delivered to the machine the control fingers 32 and 33 will be in rather close proximity to the aperture 29 at the lower extremity of the nozzle 19. As the supply of oil is increased, the fingers 32 and 33 will synchronously be moved further from the oil tube 27 and the aperture 29 in the nozzle'19, whereby the paths of the atomized streams will take a direction more nearly vertical, thereby avoiding the danger of choking out the flame within'the combustion chamber 15. Moreover, because of the fact that the velocity of the streams is very greatly reduced by reason of the projection of said streams against the control fingers 32 and 33, it is possible to burn the superficial particles of said air streams even though said streams are projected through the nozzle 19 at speeds far beyond the rate of flame propagation. This advantage is gained by reason of the fact that the atomized stream iscaused to change its direction. Part of said stream will come to zero velocity or near zero veloc ity, and combustion will take place in such portion having the reduced velocity referred to. On account of the contour of the combustion chamber 15 and by reason ofthe jets of air projected through the orifices 22 and 23, a swirling motion is set up, so that the superficial particles 'of' the stream. having their combustibility increased byadmixture with the air-jets from the orifices 22 and 23, will be highly combustible throughout the entire range of the capacity of the gasifier.v

\Vhen the gasifier is cold, it may be necessary to allow the control fingers 32 and 33 to pro-- trude more than after the gasifier has become heated. This, as described above, permits the streams to travel in a direction more nearly vertical. By reason of the difference in the spacing of the control fingers 32 and 33 from the outlet of the nozzle 19, the atomized oil is divided into zones, one rarefied and one rich in oil spray content. The finger 33 intercepts and causes the major ortion of the oil spray to form one zone. he finger 32 causes a leaner mixture to form a leaner zone,

and in addition finger 32 causes this leaner mixture to take a path relatively obtuse to the axis of the nozzle 19. The secondary air supply emitted through the orifices 22 and 23 mixes with the oil spray in the latter mentioned zone, thereby increasing the amount of combustion possible in the combustion chamber 15. v

It will he understood, of course, that the axes of orifices 22 and 23 may be chosen as desired, and that if preferred air jets emitted from said orifices may oppose the flow of the stream diverted by the control fingers 32 and 33, thereby reducing the velocity of flow of said streams.

The ratio of air to oil will be controlled by adjusting the air valve 44 relative to the oil valve 37, the spring 49 with its stud 51 being set to permit relative movement between the valve 44 and the gear 42 to bring air valve 44 and oil valve 37 into the desired relationship. The relationship of the fingersto the settings of the oil valve 37 and air valve 44 may be adjusted by turning the nut 57. The results of the combustion within the housing 14 may be observed through the peep-hole 60.

Only a limited supply of air will be admitted, sufiicient for combining with the superficial part of atomized fuel. The heat created by thecombustion of the air and said part of the fuel will gasify the remainder of said fuel. ing 14 and the action of the jets issuing from the orifices 22 and 23, the mixture of air and fluid fuel will be caused to'take a circuitous or swirling motion, resulting in a complete comminghng of air and fuel. Combustion will be with a blue flame, leaving no deposit of carbon. A reasonable explanation for this phenomenon seems to be that as soon as the gasifier is heated, the product issuing from the nozzle 19 is projected throughout the entire combustion chamber, and the air jets issuing from the orifices 22 and 23, at low velocity relative to the velocity of the streams issuing from the nozzle 19, combine at once with the superficial portion of said product, resulting in a blue flame. m

The air admitted through the apertures 22 and 23 unites with the superficial portion of thestream of atomized oil and air to form a combustible mixture around the core of the stream of atomized oil and air, the core of said stream being non-combustible because of insufficient air. Said core is made up largely of atomized oil and air projected directly from the oil tube 27 and in part by atomized oil projected against thelowermost control Due to the contour of the housfinger. Part of the atomized oil projected against the upper control r may also form part of said core. The core of the stream projectin from the nozzle 19is therefore 'surrounde by an envelope'offlame,

which penetrates to a certain extent and commingles with the main stream, whereby it is vaporized. and gasified. The velocity of flow of the core may be greater than the, rate of flame propa ation, ut due tothe fact that the air supp y throu h the orifices 22 and 23' I is at a lower rate 0 flow than the rate of flame propagation, combustion is maintained 1n this space surrounding said core, which ignites the outer layer of the core.

There is no deposit of carbon or sootdue f combustion serve as a conveyor for the released carbon, thus keeping it in a suspended state.

From the above explanation it will be clear that according to the apparatus and method described the eflicient asification of oil or. other liquid fuel may e accom lished efliciently throughout a wide range 0 operation. Moreover, the present invention provides a means whereby the su rficial articles of the vaporized fuel may burn regardless of high velocit of the remainder of said fuel whereby relatively large quantities of fue may be gasified and fixed.

Though 'a preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described forv the purpose of illustrating the invention, said embodiment should be considered only inan illustrative sense and not in a limiting sense. Many modifications will occur to those skilled in the'art, and it is intended to cover all modifications that fall within the scope of the appended claims.

'What is claimed is- 1. A method of gasifying oil fuel, consists in atomizing said fuel, projectin same divertinga portion of said projects atomized fuel at a sufliciently small angle to reduce the speed thereof to a value to rmit flame propagation to form a su r cial layer, supplying air to said superfic al la er to swirl said projected atomized fuel an to form a combustible mixture, and burning said superficiallayer to gasif the remainder of said liquid fuel, where all of said projected atomized fuel is sub ected to the ame action of said burning superficial layer.

2. A method of gasifying oil fuel, which consists in projecting a stream of atomized fuel, intercepting a part of said stream to divert same at a sufliclently small angle to reduce the speed thereof to a value to permit flame propagation and to create zones of dif-' ferent degrees of combustibility, su plying air to swirl said projected fuel, and urning which said diverted portion to gasify the remaining portion of said stream, whereby all of said projected atomized fuel is subjected to the flame action of said burning superficial layer.

3. A method of gasifying oil fuel, which consists in projecting said fuel in atomized condition and intercepting a portion of said fuel at spaced regions to divert said portion, said interception occurring at a sufficiently small angle to reduce the speed of said portion to a value to permit flame propagation and to separate said fuel into different zones, and admitting definite amounts of air to certain of said zones to totally consume said di verted portion.

4. A method of gasifying oil fuel, which consists in projecting said fuel in atomized condition, intercepting said fuel at spaced regions to divert said fuel and separate same into difierent zones, said interception occurring at a sufficiently small angle to reduce the speed of part of said fuel to a value to permit flame propagation, and delivering air to one of said zones to raise the combustibility of the fuellwithin the last-mentioned zone and to set said fuel in a swirl, whereby upon burning the fuel within said last-mentioned zone the remainder of said fuel will be gasified.

5. The method of gasifying oil fuel, which consists in atomizing said fuel and projectlng same at a velocity greater than the velocity of flame propagation of the atomized fuel, diverting a part of said projected atomized fuel to reduce the velocity of said diverted part to less than said velocity of flame propa ation, directing air to said diverted part to orm a combustible mixture and to cause said fuel to swirl, and igniting said mixture to gasify the remainder of said fuel.

6. The method of gasifying oil fuel, which consists of atomizing said fuel and projecting same at a velocity greater than the velocity of flame propagation of the atomized fuel, diverting a part of said projected atomized fuel to-reduce the velocity of said diverted part to less than said velocity of flame propagation, supplying air'to said diverted part to increase the combustibility thereof, burning said diverted part to gasify the remainder of said fuel, and causing the unburned portion of said fuel to pass through the flame caused by the burning of said diverted part.

' 7 The method of gasifying oil fuel, which consists in projecting said fuel in atomized condition, diverting a part'of said projected fuel, said diversion occurring at a sufiiciently small angle to reduce the speed of the diverted fuel to a value to permit flame propagation, mixing said diverted part with suflicient air to form a combustible mixture, burning said combustible mixture to gasify the remainder of said atomized fuel, and causing the unburned portion of said fuel to pass through the flame caused by the burning of said diverted part.

8. The method of gasifying oil fuel, which consists in projecting said fuel in atomized condition, diverting a portion of said atom ized fuel, said diversion occurring at a sufficiently small angle to reduce the speed of the diverted fuel to a value to permit flame propagation, supplying same with sufficient air to provide a combustible mixture, directing said combustible mixture in ignited condition against a catalyzing member to gasify the remainder of said atomized fuel, and comletel burning said diverted portion with a lue ame to gasify the remaining portion of said fuel. r

9. The method of converting an oil fuel into a combustible gas, which consists in atomizing said fuel with a primary supply of air, projecting said atomized mixture in a spray, diverting a portion of said spray at a sufficiently small angle to reduce the speed thereof to a value to permit flame propogation, subjecting said diverted portion of said spray to a limited secondary sup 1y of air adequate to form a completely com ustible mixture between said secondary air and the outer portion of said spray, and igniting and complete-- 1y burning said mixture formed by said secondary air and said outer portion of said spray to gasify the remaining portion of said spray.

' 10. The method of converting a heavy oil fuel into a combustible as, which consists of supplying air to said el to form a spray, diverting a portion of said spray at a sufficiently small angle to reduce the speed thereof to a value to permit flame propagation, subjecting said spray to a transversely directed secondary supply of air, and igniting the diverted particles of said spray to gasify the unignited particles.

11. The method of convertin a heavy oil fuel into a combustible gas, w ich consists in causing said fuel to form a downwardly directed spray with a limited amount of air, diverting a portion of said spray at a sufficiently small angle to reducethe speed thereof to a value to permit flame propagation, igniting said diverted portion of the spray, and imparting a swirling movement thereto to cause heat from the combustion thereof to gasify the remainder of said spray.

.12. The method of converting aheavy oil fuel into a combustible gas,which consists ofcausing said fuel to-take the form of a spray with air mixed therewith, diverting a portion of said spray at'a sufliciently small angle to reduce the speed thereof to a value to permit flame propagation and to separate said spray into inner and outer zones, directing jets of air against said spray at the outer zone thereof to promote combustion of said outer zone, and igniting said outer zone to thereby gasify the inner zone of saidspray.

13. The method of converting an oil fuel into a combustible gas, which consists of projecting said fuel in the form of a spray mixed with air into a chamber diverting a portion of said spray at asufliciently small angle to reduce the speed thereof to a value to permit flame propagation, preventing said spray from impinging directly upon a wall of said chamber by means of jets of oxygen-bearing fluid in different planes transversely to the spray which direct a part of said spray into a circuitous path and igniting and burning the diverted portion of said spray to gasify the remainder of said spray. I

14. The method of converting an oil fuel into a combustible gas, which consists of projecting a sprayed mixture of oil and air, diverting a portion of said sprayed mixture at a sufliciently small angle to reduce the speed thereof to a value to permit flame propagation, directing the course of said mixture by means of a series of transversefluid bafiles, and igniting and burning the diverted portion of said sprayed mixture to gasify the remainder of said mixture.

15. The process of convertin an oil fuel into a combustible gas, whic comprises forming a stream of oil atomized with air, diverting a portion of said stream at a sufficiently small angle to reduce the speed thereof to a value to permit flame propagation, subjecting the diverted portion of said stream to transverse streams of secondary air to unite therewith to form a combustible mixture around the core of said stream, and igniting said combustible mixture to gasify the atomized stream.

16. The process of converting a liquid fuel into a combustible gas, which comprises forming a stream of oil atomized by air, diverting a portion of said stream at a sufliciently small angle to reduce the speed thereof to a value to permit flame propagation, directing secondary air transversely against said diverted portion, and igniting the mixture of said diverted portion and said secondary air to gasify the inner portion of said stream'which is unconsumed 1n said converting process.

17. The process of converting an oil fuel into a combustible gas, which comprises projecting downwardly a stream of primary air and oil particles, diverting a portion of said stream at a sufliciently small angle to reduce the speed thereof to a value to permit flame propagation, commingling said diverter portion with secondary air jets, igniting said commingled part of the stream into secondaryair to produce a blue flame, and generating.

heat thereby to gasify the unconsumed oil particles. a

18. The process of converting an oil fuel into a combustible gas, which comprises projecting a main stream of air and oil, diverting a portion uf said stream at a ufiiciently small angle to reduce the speed thereof to a value to ermit flame propagation, impinging 19. The process of converting an oil fuel mg a stream of oil atomized with air, predetermining and simultaneously synchronizing the proportions of air and oil, diverting a portion of said stream at a sufliciently small into a combustible gas, which comprises form- 2 angle to reduce the speed thereof to a value -to permit flame propagation, subjecting the diverted portion of said stream to suflicient air to form a combustible mixture therewith, and ignitmg said combustible mixture to gasify the unconsumed portion of said stream.

20. The method of converting an oil fuel into combustible gas, which consists of roj ecting said fuel in the form of a spray mlxed with air, divertin a portion of said spray at a sufiiciently smafi angle to reduce the speed thereof to a value to permit flame pro agation, subjecting said diverted portion 0 said spray to transversely directed combustionsupportingfluid, and i niting said portion of said spray to gasify the remainder of said spray.

21. The rocess of converting an oil fuel into a combustible as com rising projecting a main stream 0 an: an atomized oil at a velocit higher than the rate of flame propagation, diverting a ortion of said stream at a sufliciently small angle to reduce the speed thereof to a value to permit flame propa ation, impinging thereon transverse secon ar air jets at a velocity lower than the rate of ame propagation to maintain combustion, and igniting and burning the mixture formed by the secondary air and the impinged rtlon of the stream in the form of a blue ame to gasify the remaining part of said stream.

22. The process of convertin an oil'fuel into a combustible gas, whic comprises forming a stream of 011 atomized by air, diverting a-portion of said stream at a sufficiently small angle to reduce the speed thereof to a value to permit flame propagation, igniting a portion of said stream to gasify t e unconsumed portion of said stream, and varying the volume of air and oil according to the volume of combustible gas desired while maintaining the relative proportions of air and oil.

23. The process of convertin an oil fuel ciently small angle to reduce the speed thereof to a value to ermit flame propagation, subjecting a super cial portion of said stream to secondary air to unite therewith'to form a combustible mixture, igniting said com bustible mixture to gasify the atomized stream, and varying the volume of said pri Y mary air, oil and secondary 'airin synchronized proportions according to the-volume of combustible gas desired. i

24.'The"m ethod of converting an oilfuel into a. combustible plying oil atomize by air through a nozzle projecting into'fa chamber, diverting a portion of sand atomized oil at a sufli ciently small angle toreduce-the'speedthereof to a value to permit flame propagation, and igniting a portion of said atomized oil surrounding said nozzle to convert the remaining ortion of said atomized fuel into a combusti le gas.

- 25. The method of converting oil into a combustible gas, which consists-of supplying oil atomized by airthrough a nozzle rojecting into a'chamber, and completely urning a portion of the atomized fuel surrounding said inlet nozzle in the presence of a catalyzer located in the zone of flame to convert the remaining portion of said atomized fuel into a combustible gas.

Signed at Short 11th day of Segtember 1926.

GE RGE. t 'REIGHHELM.

gas, which consists of sup- Beach, Connecticut, this 

